Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Albert Bandura: Principles of Social Learning Theory

1. Learning occurs
through observation. We learn by observing other people. They observe other’s
behavior and the results of these behaviors. Remember the “bobo doll
experiment”? Children learn especially from older ones and try to imitate their
behavior. This underscores the significance of good role models for children to
learn appropriate and positive behavior.

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2. Learning doesn’t
necessarily mean a change in behavior. Behaviorist theory connotes that
learning should result to a change in behavior. For social learning theorists,
learning can happen even without a change in behavior. People can learn just
observation and does not certainly have to be represented in a change to their
behavior.

3. Social learning
theory involves cognition for learning. Various cognitive factors are involved
for people to learn such as attention, awareness and retention. Reinforcement
and punishment also have an impact on the behavior people may demonstrate and
exhibit.

4. In relation to the
above-mentioned principle, social learning theory can be considered a transition between behaviorist
learning theories and cognitive learning theories. It suggests the importance
of cognitive process in learning like attention but at the same time
acknowledges the role of behaviorist idea of reinforcement and punishment to
strengthen learning and behavior.